Iris Plant Facts and Information

Irises are herbaceous perennial, they are hardy plants and known for their beauty. The flowers come in colors including purple, blue, orange, red, brown, yellow, white and black. Irises can be found around the world, the flower is in a genus by itself with between 250 and 300 different varieties. The leaves of all iris flowers look the same (with sword-like appearance).

The two main categories of iris are bulbous and rhizome iris. A boundless supply of varieties, species, hybrids and cultivars are included in these two types. Rhizome iris is horizontal in growth with wider stems and the leaves have the appearance of a flattened sword. Both the plant and roots grow from the rhizome. Bulbous irises grow from bulbs and normally they are smaller than the rhizome varieties. Bulbous irises are divided into groups called bearded, beardless and crested. They produce blossoms that require dormancy after flowering.

The flower was named after the ancient Greek goddess who was considered the God’s messenger. In their language, Iris means “rainbow” and was considered to be the bond between the heaven and earth. Therefore, the flower was viewed as a symbolic of the conceptof communication. In Egyptian palaces, there were drawings of irises discovered because they were appreciated by the kings. It has always been assumed by the people that the flower on the Sphinx was an iris. They were used medicinally and to make perfume. The elegant purple colored iris was designated in 1933 as the Tennessee state cultivated flower by the Legislature.

Irises are commonly used as ornamental plants. They appear in residential gardens and also in botanical gardens. This is because they are simple to propagate and cultivate, and they have pleasant appearance. They thrive in most free, garden-quality soil types. If you want to plant these flowers, then July through September are the most ideal months to generate a productive root system